They Mysterious Stranger

As we have discussed in class the ending of the short story "The Mysterious Stranger" was sad, depressing and discouraging. The notion that our world is a dream and the entire novel was thought up by Theodor Fischer.

I'm interested to read the other versions of "They Mysterious Stranger" because I believe Twain left them unfinished and did not publish them for a reason. I think it would be interesting to examine the other versions to help understand why Albert Paine and Frederick Duneka used the pieces they did in order to form the story we read in class.

The story was sad to read, because in the beginning of the semester we read books that showed Twain's hope and desire for society to change and become better and this piece basically says, nothing is real so nothing is worth it.

Throughout the class I viewed Twain as a likable person who wrote pieces to enlighten and provoke thought, but this piece was too much for me to handle. I enjoyed reading it, but it was so dark and sad in the ending I wish I could go back to Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn!

Will we always follow the crowd?

In January when someone mentioned Mark Twain I imminently thought, white suit, Tom Sawyer, Mississippi River and Huck Finn... He was not someone I would say followed the crowd. He lived to set a statement.

It interests me that he spends so many of the pieces discussing how society follows the crowd even when immoral acts are being done, such as lynching. I've been paying closer attention to this idea and I agree with Twain, people go with the flow of society to fit in, even if it isn't the right thing to do. And sometimes when you stand up for something you believe isn't right other people turn against you and then shun or hurt you.

It is a vicious cycle, because being like to be liked and have friends. It isn't something that can be easily changed, but if people continue to stand up for what they truly believe in time and time again. I believe slowly going with the crowd will change, but not as quickly as Mark Twain would have wanted.

Pudd'nhead Wilson Nature vs. Nurture

When I was reading "Pudd'nhead Wilson" I was interested by the comments Twain made about Tom and Chambers personalities as they grew up and if their actions were because of nature or nurture in their upbringing.

When Roxy switched the boys she thought no one would ever find out, as the reader I knew that wasn't the case and that the fingerprints would have something to do with the discovery.

After the switch, Tom (who was really Chambers), was raised in a wealthy family who gets in trouble with gambling, stealing and murder. Through Roxy, Twain suggests that Tom's behavior is a result of his racial heritage. As if he was born with these personality traits because he is black.

However, Chambers (who is really Tom), grows up as a slave is a good person who obeys this orders and doesn't get into much trouble. At the end of the novel when Chambers returns to his rightful position he is unable to assume the role as a wealthy white person. This suggests that Twain believes he could not assume these roles, because of the way he was brought up.

This idea is conflicting and shows that Twain feels that in different circumstances nature and nurture play different roles in peoples lives. This is interesting to me because in the same novel Twain doesn't really take a stance on this issue. Two characters have two different stipulations to address why they act a certain way.

I believe there is a balance within a person and the characteristics that are because of nature and those from nurture. I believe nurture has a lot to do with the way people change and grow through time. I don't believe that all characteristics come from nature; a lot can come from your experiences and the environment you grow up in.

In my life I feel more of who I am today is the environment I was brought up in and the people I am surrounded with. However, I also have characteristics that I was born with.

It is a very fine line, and I understand why Twain didn't take a stance, but I wish he would have.